For those not in the know, Maurizio Pollini (born January 5, 1942) is an Italian classical pianist especially noted for his performances of Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Schoenberg, Webern and for championing modern composers such as Pierre Boulez, Luigi Nono, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Giacomo Manzoni, Salvatore Sciarrino and Bruno Maderna.

Important modern works have been composed for Pollini, notably Nono's ..... sofferte onde serene ..., Manzoni's Masse: omaggio a Edgard Varèse and Sciarrino's Fifth Sonata.

Pollini has conducted both opera and orchestral music, sometimes leading the orchestra from the keyboard in concertos.

Here on the just released Chopin: Nocturnes, Mazurkas, Berceuse, Sonata, Opp. 55-58, the Italian pianist revisits works by Chopin; including the Third Piano Sonata, the Berceuse, and the two Nocturnes, op. 55, alongside his first recording of the three Mazurkas, op. 56.

01. Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (04:37)
02. Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2 (04:42)
03. Mazurka in B Major, Op. 56 No. 1 (04:30)
04. Mazurka in C Major, Op. 56 No. 2 (01:40)
05. Mazurka in C Minor, Op. 56 No. 3 (05:41)
06. Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57 (04:29)
07. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58 - 1. Allegro maestoso (12:24)
08. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58 - 2. Scherzo (Molto vivace) (02:31)
09. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58 - 3. Largo (07:39)
10. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58 - 4. Finale (Presto non tanto) (05:14)

Frédéric Chopin made his name in the high-society salons of his native Poland and, above all, in the vibrant Paris of Eugène Delacroix, Victor Hugo and George Sand.

His pieces for solo piano, often technically challenging, always enchanting, are in constant global demand today, especially when brought to life by a performer of Maurizio Pollini’s stature.

To be honest, the 76-year-old Italian musician has been in love with Chopin’s art since childhood, a passion clear in his critically acclaimed recordings of the composer’s works for Deutsche Grammophon.

Ergo, this wondrous, simply divine new collection embraces a lifetime’s dedication to the composer and complements Pollini’s much praised 2017 album, Chopin – Late Works, opp.59–64.

I am a great admirer of Pollini and where some people tend to find his playing too austere or unromantic, I personally feel life being breathed throughout each orchestrated musical work of Pollini art.

Ergo, Pollini does a superb job here on these works, most especially on the Sonata op. 58, in my humble opinion. I mean, it’s easy to think of him as a technician, since his technique is so accomplished but no, he really is a most gifted interpretivist and his recordings always showcase that.

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